Repurposing Pickering

204 Pages·2016·6.34 MB·English

Repurposing Pickering

Exploring the possibilities for new uses and reuses
on the Pickering Nuclear site

December 11, 2015
This report is made available for information purposes only. The content of this report is based
on available facts, the analysis undertaken and assumptions made (the "Content"), as of the
date of this report (11/12/2015). The Content may change, subsequent to the date of this report,
and these changes may have an impact on the assessment results. Please note that OPG may
or may not choose to either update this report or post an updated report. OPG cannot guarantee
the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of this report or its usefulness for any purpose. OPG
will not be liable for any loss, damage cost or expense arising or incurred as a result of any
person's use or reliance on this report.
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Executive Summary
As part of planning for the end of commercial operations of the Pickering Nuclear Generating
Station, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is undertaking a study to explore future uses of the
Pickering site. The reason for this is to ensure that the site will continue to be put to productive
uses that benefit Ontarians during and after the decommissioning of the Pickering station. Given
the transmission (hydro) corridor and other valuable infrastructure that already are in place,
through Repurposing Pickering, OPG aims to identify and implement land uses that take
advantage of existing assets – without interfering with decommissioning and without preventing
the site’s long-term potential from being realized. As a starting point for Repurposing Pickering,
the purpose of this first comprehensive study is to explore future possibilities broadly – and then
narrow down and recommend a manageable number of land use options for further study.
Once commercial operations have ceased, nuclear-related operations will continue for another
four decades with respect to used fuel storage, decommissioning and waste management.
Implementation of repurposed uses will, as such, need to take into account the constraints
associated with those activities.
Through a review of current conditions on the site and in its surroundings, other key
considerations that may have an impact on the selection of land use options include:
 Proximity to important bodies of water (including provincially significant wetlands) and
wildlife habitat.
 Breadth and depth of surrounding infrastructure, which supports options that require a
large workforce and/or major support services.
 Potential for transporting large and heavy loads by rail and/or ship.
 Connectivity to the hydro corridor, which enables new power-related options.
 Municipal and regional policies that encourage new economic opportunities and
express a goal to advance Durham as the “energy capital of Ontario.”
 The growth outlook for the City of Pickering (forecast to double its population by 2031).
 The real estate trends and market prospects for the major real estate classes.
As input to the assessment of options for Repurposing Pickering, a list of more than 600 ideas
was generated – primarily by soliciting input through public and stakeholder engagement
activities. After consolidation and assessment of these ideas, the options that were deemed to
be suitable for implementation during the decommissioning period relate to four land use
categories: power, industrial, institutional and recreational. This correlates strongly with the input
received directly from the public, whose ideas primarily related to power (33%) and recreational
(31%) land uses, followed by institutional (19%) and industrial (14%). The remaining categories
– office, residential and retail – received negligible support; with regards to residential, about the
same number of people explicitly said that they are against as those who said that they are for.
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After assessment of land uses within the power category, the following are recommended for
further study:
 Combined heat and power
 Natural gas power generation
 Solar power generation
 Non-generation options that contribute to improving the use and stability of the power
grid (such as, energy storage and transformer station)
 Power-related innovation, such as, smart grid testing and development of emerging
technologies (including small-scale nuclear demonstration)
Among the other industrial land uses, the following are recommended for further study:
 Data centre
 Film studios
 Manufacturing, including food production
 Medical isotope production, nuclear materials testing and other non-power related
nuclear applications
 Cooling, leasing out space to other companies (indoor and/or outdoor) and other
business support services
Of the institutional land uses, the following are recommended for further study:
 Post-secondary education
 Professional training
 Research and development
 Continued or enhanced public information services (including considering a nuclear-
themed museum and/or public tours)
 Community centre and other community-related services
Of the recreational land uses, the following are recommended for further study:
 Enhancing recreational uses on and near the waterfront
 Complementing existing sports fields, including small indoor sports facilities
Based on this study, the aim is to explore the above land uses in further detail. This includes
assessing commercial viability and ease of implementation, as well as continuing to work with
the City of Pickering and Region of Durham to ensure alignment with their visions for the site.
OPG will also remain mindful of provincial energy policy and how it might influence future
developments on the site.
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Acknowledgements
In acknowledgement of the hundreds of people who have contributed to this report, OPG and
the consultant team contracted for this study wish to extend a special thank you to:
 Everyone who visited and engaged in conversations or filled out comment cards during
the pop up booth sessions or the community open house in the spring of 2015.
 Members of the Pickering Community Advisory Council for their high level of
engagement and interest in the study – both with regards to brainstorming ideas for land
uses, as well as the many suggestions related to the study’s public engagement
program.
 Members of the Technical Advisory Committee for their interest in Repurposing
Pickering and their valuable knowledge and perspectives shared.
 The OPG employees who attended the Lunch and Learn sessions in Pickering and
Darlington in April and May 2015.
 All those who sent ideas and other input via email or social media between mid-March
and mid-October 2015.
 Those who took the time to develop and submit more detailed proposals.

This first comprehensive study on Repurposing Pickering has, on behalf of OPG, been
conducted by an interdisciplinary consultant team consisting of members from the Candesco
Division of Kinectrics Inc., Deloitte LLP, and Hardy Stevenson and Associates Limited.
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 3
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 5
1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 9
1.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 9
1.2 Purpose and Scope .................................................................................................10
2 Current Conditions and Assumptions ............................................................................11
2.1 Pickering Nuclear Site .............................................................................................11
2.2 Site Surroundings ....................................................................................................13
2.3 Nuclear Facilities, Decommissioning and Waste Management ................................14
3 Selection of Options ........................................................................................................17
3.1 Approach and Repurposing Objectives ....................................................................17
3.2 Planning Zones ........................................................................................................19
3.3 Fixed Uses and Repurposing Potential Over Time ...................................................21
3.4 Identification of Opportunities...................................................................................26
3.5 Screening ................................................................................................................27
3.6 Assessment of Land Uses During the Decommissioning Period ..............................28
3.6.1 Land Use Categories ....................................................................................30
3.6.2 Power Options ..............................................................................................31
3.6.3 Industrial Options .........................................................................................36
3.6.4 Institutional Options ......................................................................................40
3.6.5 Recreational Options ....................................................................................42
4 Conclusions .....................................................................................................................45
Attachments ............................................................................................................................49
Attachment A – Baseline Conditions for Repurposing Pickering .........................................51
Attachment B – Overview of Municipal and Regional Policies ............................................67
Attachment C – Identification of Opportunities ...................................................................73
Attachment D – Screening and Assessment Framework.................................................. 185
Attachment E – Planning Zones ....................................................................................... 195
Attachment F – Brochure and Frequently Asked Questions ............................................. 199

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1 Introduction
1.1 Background
Commercial operations at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station began in July 1971, when
the first reactor unit started supplying electricity to the Ontario power grid. By 1986, seven more
units had been completed – bringing the total generating capacity to more than 4,100 MW. That
made – and still makes – Pickering one of the largest nuclear power sites in the world. Today all
but two of the units continue to provide Ontarians with a safe and reliable supply of electricity.
With a current capacity of 3,100 MW, around 14% of the power in Ontario is generated by the
six remaining units at the Pickering Nuclear site.
Within the foreseeable future, all six operating units are anticipated to reach a stage when it
would no longer be feasible to maintain them for power generation without significant
investment in refurbishment. For that reason, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), which owns
and operates the Pickering Nuclear station, has begun to plan for the end of the station’s
commercial operations.

The Pickering Nuclear station generates around 14% of the electricity in Ontario.
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In addition to nuclear power
generation, the Pickering site
hosts several complementary
uses, ranging from Cobalt-601
production, simulator training
and wind power generation to
public beaches, parks and
sports fields.
Portions of the site are
dedicated to the safe and
secure management of waste
generated at the station. This
includes both conventional
waste from when the station
was constructed and used
nuclear fuel from operation of
the reactor units.
Once power generation has ceased, nuclear-related operations will continue for another four
decades with respect to used fuel storage, decommissioning and waste management. But in
parallel with those activities, parts of the site can be made available for other uses. For that
reason, OPG has begun to explore the possibilities for Repurposing Pickering.
1.2 Purpose and Scope
OPG’s goal is that the Pickering site will continue to benefit OPG, its shareholder and the
surrounding communities both during the decommissioning period and beyond. Given the
transmission (hydro) corridor and other valuable infrastructure in place, through Repurposing
Pickering, OPG aims to identify and implement land uses that take advantage of existing assets
– without interfering with decommissioning and without preventing the site’s long-term potential
from being realized.
As a starting point for Repurposing Pickering, the purpose of this study is to explore future
possibilities broadly – and then narrow down and recommend a manageable number of land
use options for further study. The scope of this study therefore is:
 Land area: All OPG-owned lands by the Pickering Nuclear site.
 Land uses: No restrictions (that is, “everything is on the table”).
 Time period: Primary focus during decommissioning – but also with a view beyond.

1 Cobalt-60 is used as a radiation source in medicine and a wide range of industrial applications.
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